Feds announcing charges in Ohio wastewater dumping

YOUNGSTOWN -- Federal prosecutors in northeast Ohio say they are announcing charges related to the alleged dumping of up to 20,000 gallons of gas-drilling wastewater into a river tributary.

The U.S. Attorney's Office planned a 1 p.m. Thursday news conference to announce the charges in Youngstown, where the dumping allegedly occurred Jan. 31.

The operating permits of two companies - D&L Energy and brine hauler Hardrock Excavating - have already been revoked amid the investigation.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the action was taken after workers at the companies' Youngstown headquarters were allegedly seen dumping the brine and drilling mud into a storm sewer that empties into the Mahoning River watershed.

A U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman didn't immediately respond to a message left Thursday morning.